The day after competing in Rally competition, Lily Belle returned to the field to flush chukars and pheasants. Lily is practicing for the AKC Spaniel Hunt test. The job of a flushing dog is to locate a bird and then to flush it so that a hunter can shoot the bird. Flushing dogs need to remain close to the person (within gun range — 30-40 yards). This is a different style than a pointer dog that might go on point hundreds of yards away from his handler / hunter. A pointer dog's job is to locate the bird and point at it until the handler / hunter comes to the dog. A pointing dog "locks up" and waits (or at least is supposed to). Many of the electronic collars have a feature that tells you when the dog is on point. A retrieving dog generally stays with the handler / hunter until after the bird (duck / goose et al) is shot and then retrieves the bird. A flusher finds, makes the bird fly, and retrieves it.

Here is a one minute video highlighting Lily flushing and retrieving.

It was a nice December day to go birding. Some photos follow.